Dav support for Malik

Lahore: Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore has backed the return of former captain Shoaib Malik to the national side for limited-overs cricket and also feels that he will be the best candidate to lead the team in T20 cricket.

A well-placed source aware of the developments said that Whatmore was in favour of bringing back Malik as the captain of the national T20 side.

“It is too early to predict things but one thing is certain that before the team goes to Sri Lanka, the Pakistan cricket Board will announce a new captain for the T20 outfit and Malik is a front-runner now after the backing of Whatmore,” the source said.

The appointment of a new captain for the national T20 side has become a significant issue in Pakistan as the T20 World Cup is due in September in Sri Lanka.

Many don’t favour Misbah-ul Haq to lead the team in the T20 format in particular due to his age and different approach to the game and captaincy.

“Malik impressed Whatmore who was present in Rawalpindi throughout the national super eights T20 championship with the way he led the Sialkot Stallions side to their seventh national T20 championship title,” the source said.

Malik not only performed well in the championship but also came out with an impressive performance with both bat and ball throughout the competition. (PTI)